TOUGH SIBERIANS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 41, 27 November 1942, Page 3

TOUGH SIBERIANS

BREAKING ENEMY OFFENSIVE.

\ LONG ORDEAL AT STALINGRAD. UNDER AIR AND TANK ATTACKS. (N.Z, Press Association—Copyright). (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 26. Tough troops from the black Siberian plains were mainly responsible for breaking the German offensive against Stalingrad, says the Soviet Army newspaper, “Red Star,” published at Moscow. They beat back 23 attacks by German infantry in one day and 117 in one month, and Avere at grips with the enemy for 10 to 20 hours daily for 27 successive days—Ml on a sector less than one mile wide. When the Siberian division reached the factory district of Stalingrad it immediately took up the defence of the “ravine of death,” a valley traversing the factory settlement to the Volga.

The Siberians entrenched themselves, established dug-outs in heaps of rubble and cut gun embrasures in the factory Avails. The men Avere no sooner entrenched and the command post located at the bottom of a long shafts in the bank of the Volga; than German planes, swarmed over and bombed them for eight hours. The Germans followed up with an artillery bombardment throughout the night. The Siberians stuck to their positions —(hen one regiment attacked the Germans in anticipation of the enemy’s Infantry assault. The Siberians managed to advance about a mile before encountering superior German forces 'who beat them back with heavy losses. German dive-bombers on the third day attacked the Siberians for 10 hours Avliile German guns continuously shelled them. The Germans then had 100 regiments of artillery inside and outside Stalingrad. The Russian artillery east of the Volga, helped the. Siberians as much cjs (possible, taking heavy toll of the German tanks. The Siberians, always silent, greAv more morose, thinner-faced and gloomier. They Avere without sleep for three or, four nights in succession' and were often so busy that they Avere unable to touch their tAvo hot meals sent up daily in thermos flasks.

The Germans, after 20 days’ continuous assault, in which they were unable to overcome the Siberians, launched a supreme attack which lasted 20 hours. They threw in everything. It was a most frightful assault. No. sooner had the dive-bombers withdrawn and the guns and mortars become silent, than tanks with inebriated tommy-gunners, followed by infantry, attacked, backed up by flame-throwing tanks, dum-dum bullets and minethrowers. The Siberians somehow stood their ground. Then came the Red commander’s prepared counter blow. 'lhe Siberians remained in the van of the main Russians’ attack. Nov they are moving westwards, exacting payment for their sacrifies.